Cost of Burns in Denmark

Abstract

In continuation of a study on the number of burns in a Scandinavian population (Thomsen & S$oSrensen, 1967), an attempt was made to calculate the economic consequences of burn injuries to society. On the basis of data concerning all patients with burn injuries in the municipality of Copenhagen during the financial year of 1965 66, the total annual expenditure per million of the population may be calculated as follows: direct expenses for treatment. Dkr 1,810,000; damages, Dkr 600,000; lost earnings. Dkr 1,940,000; which makes the total annual expenditure per inhabitant Dkr 4.35 ($0.60). Moreover, there are every year 10 deaths from burn injuries per million of the population, and an appreciable number of persons are permanently disabled.